Shitoku (English spelling)

Japanese: 四瀆 - しとく（英語表記）Sì dú

The four great rivers of China. The term "Huang" refers to a river that flows directly into the sea (the "Shishui" in "Erya"). One theory is that it refers to a great river that drains China's pollution into the sea (the "Pursuit" in "Baihutong"). Generally, the four are the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Huai River, and the Jishui River. The four Huangs have been worshiped as gods since ancient times, but they became the subject of state rituals along with the Five Mountains in the first year of the Shenjue era under Emperor Xuan of the Western Han Dynasty (61 BC), when shrines were built in specific locations for each of the four Huangs. They have continued to be worshiped by successive dynasties since then.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中国の四大河。瀆とは，水源を発して直接海に注ぐ川(《爾雅》釈水)を指す。一説に，中国の汚濁を海に流す大河を指すともいう(《白虎通》巡狩)。一般には，長江(揚子江)，黄河，淮水（わいすい），済水を数える。四瀆は古くから神としてまつられてきたが，五岳とともに国家の祭祀の対象となるのは前漢宣帝の神爵1年(前61)からで，四瀆のおのおのについて特定の地に廟が建てられた。その後も歴代王朝によってまつられている。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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